January 26, 2026 — Dalena Reporters
Israel’s military has announced it has retrieved the remains of the final hostage who had been held in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, a development officials say could help advance plans to ease the long-running conflict in the Palestinian territory.
According to statements released on Monday, the remains of police officer Ran Gvili who had been held in Gaza for more than 840 days were identified and will be returned to Israel for burial. Gvili was among the last captives whose fate remained unresolved following the ceasefire agreement reached after nearly two years of intense warfare.
The recovery of Gvili’s remains is seen as fulfilling a key condition of the first phase of a U.S.-brokered plan aimed at ending hostilities and stabilising the region. Officials have tied the return of the body to potential steps toward reopening the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, an important route for humanitarian aid and civilian movement.
Israeli and international mediators have been pressing to advance peace arrangements that include security guarantees, reconstruction frameworks for Gaza, and transitions to reduce armed conflict. The military’s announcement underscores a significant milestone in those efforts, coming after most surviving hostages had already been released under earlier arrangements.
The recovery also carries symbolic significance in Israel, where the return of those taken during the Hamas attack has been a central national priority throughout the conflict and follow-up negotiations.